I have a lot to catch up on but right now this is my most urgent query!!
Long story short, our beautiful Odin is counting time, probably weeks rather than months but you never know. Freja is not a confident bunny and has never been alone, so I am quite concerned about her mental health when she loses him. As a result - and because we actually thought we were going to lose him a couple of months ago - I have been looking out for a suitable toyboy for her to hopefully bond with for the future. We've got the chance of a young (4.5 month) buck from her own breeders, which I am most happy about as she is well bred and healthy compared to so many giants, as well as being a good size, not stupid big.
If it all goes beautifully then the dream is for them all to bond as a lovely trio and for Odin to just have another doting bunny to clean his ears for him in his dotage. I am not naive enough to think this is likely though!!
My biggest worry is just having him on the premises being enough to knock the bond that already exists. I read a post by IM the other day (old post) that suggested this is less of an issue if they can smell but not see the new bunny, so we are setting them up to be invisible to each other but within smelling distanct. Because of their sizes it is not easy to ensure enough space for everyone, but we can just about do it.
The plan is to have an outside area that newbun can be alongside Freja - in time - so they can see each other but are separated for as long as necessary, whilst having enough space to be happy. Then an indoor area that will be a bit small longterm but we can work on that, for overnight - though there is the option of newbun staying outside as we're converting the henhouse to be an outdoor house for him. Not an option for too much longer, but hopefully long enough if we need to so that Odin isn't distressed. Newbun will need to be carried between the two, but this gives us chance to spend time with him and get him used to being handled whilst he's still young too.
Once I know they are ok then the plan would be to have them alongside, inside and out, and then to gradually start swapping territories so they each get chance to sniff and explore each other's scent. It also means newbun can get familiar with the layout of the big run and tunnels, more exercise, and access to the grazing hill.
I'm not in a rush to bond them, and newbun needs neutering anyway which will be done as soon as he is settled enough for me to know what is normal for him, but what am I missing? In reality what are the chance of his meer presence upsetting the big guys? They have a very tight bond, but it really worries me.
The reason he is coming now and not once Odin has gone is that a) I am very worried that Freja will not cope for very long on her own, and b) the breeder only breeds when they want a litter, not commercially, and I am keen to get as healthy a rabbit as I can, and not support the rabbit version of BYB. Giants just don't come up in rescue often enough, if they do it is generally too far for us to travel, and Odin's issues have been exacerbated by her sheer size so we are not prepared to risk a smaller rabbit longterm.
I will do a full Odin update separately, but any thoughts as to how we can minimise the stress for them over the next couple of weeks would be appreciated - please be kind and as positive as possible though,I am acutely aware of the risks of bringing him home, I have thought and thought over the past few months but this feels like the best option from a difficult choice.
Long story short, our beautiful Odin is counting time, probably weeks rather than months but you never know. Freja is not a confident bunny and has never been alone, so I am quite concerned about her mental health when she loses him. As a result - and because we actually thought we were going to lose him a couple of months ago - I have been looking out for a suitable toyboy for her to hopefully bond with for the future. We've got the chance of a young (4.5 month) buck from her own breeders, which I am most happy about as she is well bred and healthy compared to so many giants, as well as being a good size, not stupid big.
If it all goes beautifully then the dream is for them all to bond as a lovely trio and for Odin to just have another doting bunny to clean his ears for him in his dotage. I am not naive enough to think this is likely though!!
My biggest worry is just having him on the premises being enough to knock the bond that already exists. I read a post by IM the other day (old post) that suggested this is less of an issue if they can smell but not see the new bunny, so we are setting them up to be invisible to each other but within smelling distanct. Because of their sizes it is not easy to ensure enough space for everyone, but we can just about do it.
The plan is to have an outside area that newbun can be alongside Freja - in time - so they can see each other but are separated for as long as necessary, whilst having enough space to be happy. Then an indoor area that will be a bit small longterm but we can work on that, for overnight - though there is the option of newbun staying outside as we're converting the henhouse to be an outdoor house for him. Not an option for too much longer, but hopefully long enough if we need to so that Odin isn't distressed. Newbun will need to be carried between the two, but this gives us chance to spend time with him and get him used to being handled whilst he's still young too.
Once I know they are ok then the plan would be to have them alongside, inside and out, and then to gradually start swapping territories so they each get chance to sniff and explore each other's scent. It also means newbun can get familiar with the layout of the big run and tunnels, more exercise, and access to the grazing hill.
I'm not in a rush to bond them, and newbun needs neutering anyway which will be done as soon as he is settled enough for me to know what is normal for him, but what am I missing? In reality what are the chance of his meer presence upsetting the big guys? They have a very tight bond, but it really worries me.
The reason he is coming now and not once Odin has gone is that a) I am very worried that Freja will not cope for very long on her own, and b) the breeder only breeds when they want a litter, not commercially, and I am keen to get as healthy a rabbit as I can, and not support the rabbit version of BYB. Giants just don't come up in rescue often enough, if they do it is generally too far for us to travel, and Odin's issues have been exacerbated by her sheer size so we are not prepared to risk a smaller rabbit longterm.
I will do a full Odin update separately, but any thoughts as to how we can minimise the stress for them over the next couple of weeks would be appreciated - please be kind and as positive as possible though,I am acutely aware of the risks of bringing him home, I have thought and thought over the past few months but this feels like the best option from a difficult choice.
